Waite, Wilfred Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Wilfred Arthur |
Surname | Waite |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 01-01-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Albert and Olive Sarah Waite, of Chelsea, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV785 |
Markings | ZA-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Pocklington Burial Ground |
Grave Reference | U.47. 3129. |
Epitaph | AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE SHALL REMEMBER HIM |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 258 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1415543 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 10 |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Miscellaneous Information
Refer to the book entitled 'Halifax Crew- the story of a wartime bomber crew' for a full account (written by the bomb aimer F/S A C Smith, who was injured in this crash) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/145/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-01-1945 |
End Date | 02-01-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Melbourne |
Day/Night Raid | Night (88% moon) |
Operation | Dortmund- to bomb a coking plant |
Reason for Loss | Jettisoned the bomb load after the starboard outer engine began to misfire on outbound leg. Returned to base but the pilot misjudged their height and tried to go round again but collided with a tree in the process, bursting into flames. |